Chapter 13: Reaching an Agreement

Chapter 13: Reaching an Agreement

"If I shoot him, I'll be safe."

Sigh, but it's clear this is a trap. On one hand, they're testing whether I can assemble this thing. On the other, they're gauging my attitude. This guy is really cunning.

Hinata Hyuga hesitated for a moment.

"Bang!"

Hinata quietly mimicked the sound of a gunshot.

Clink.

She let out a bitter smile and casually placed the Desert Eagle pistol back on the tray. Across the room, Orochimaru continued rummaging through various items, seemingly unaware of what Hinata had just done.

"You're quite sensible."

The next second, as Hinata sat on the sofa, she felt a hand brush past her short hair and gently touch her face. Orochimaru's voice echoed as the coolness of the touch spread across her skin. The snake clone that had been turning the room upside down disintegrated instantly.

"Really now..." Hinata muttered with a bitter smile on her face.

It was all just a test after all.

Even though she had known this was a trap, she had still been tempted several times to pull the trigger. Despite realizing what Orochimaru was up to, there was a moment of hesitation—a fleeting urge to actually go through with it.

Luckily, her final moments of doubt stopped her from firing.

And it was clear now: Orochimaru wasn't afraid of being shot. If she had wanted to kill Hinata, it would have been over in an instant.

Now the real question arises—marked by a cursed seal and entirely at Orochimaru's mercy—it seemed like she was out of options.

Yet, oddly enough, Hinata felt that this was her chance!

The skills she just displayed—Orochimaru definitely noticed. This meant she had value. Orochimaru was interested in her, which meant the negotiations were now on an even footing. As for her safety, Hinata wasn't too concerned. If Orochimaru wanted her dead, she wouldn't have bothered with curses and schemes.

With this realization, Hinata began considering her next move. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with an idea.

"What if I give you money?"

"I'm not interested in money," Orochimaru interrupted, dismissing the offer with ease.

Hinata blinked in surprise, then nodded. Her quick response gave Hinata a clue as to what might work.

"What if I propose a partnership? What's in it for me?" Hinata asked suddenly.

"A partnership? And what about the people behind you?" Orochimaru was taken aback, confusion written all over her face.

The one standing before her was just a little girl, not even ten years old. Though her ability to assemble that peculiar little object had proved her worth, Orochimaru still didn't believe this was entirely her doing. At best, she thought Hinata had been trained by someone.

But now, Hinata's attitude was making Orochimaru pause. Was there really no one behind her? Or was she just trying to throw her off?

"Yes, just me. No matter how you look at it, it's just me," Hinata smiled knowingly.

No matter what Orochimaru thought, Hinata had a clear idea of what she wanted. The Hyuga clan was in dire straits, as her father Hiashi had informed her. The long history of battles—the First and Second Ninja Wars, the death of the Fourth Hokage, and the aging of the Third—had drained Konoha of its resources. The Hyuga clan, one of Konoha's prominent families, was not spared from these hardships.

As the eldest daughter of the clan, Hinata realized that if her actions influenced the future of the Hyuga family, she'd have to deal with a mountain of problems when she took over.

The Hyuga family, despite its polished appearance, was struggling.

If she ended up inheriting a mess, it would make her life miserable. She had to find a way to live well in this world—otherwise, what was the point?

So, if she could strike a deal with Orochimaru, she wouldn't have to leave Konoha to escape its hold. She could maintain her identity in Konoha while making money from their partnership. Orochimaru wasn't interested in money, which Hinata understood and trusted. This meant they could each get what they wanted if they worked together.

Orochimaru wanted skills, and Hinata could provide them. The benefits that would come from those skills would be hers to claim. She had plenty to offer, and keeping Orochimaru hooked wouldn't be a problem.

Orochimaru frowned, thinking for a moment before looking at Hinata. "So, you're saying you can provide what I want?"

Orochimaru didn't need much convincing. Her fascination with these techniques, especially the potential they hinted at, was undeniable. She could already envision the revolutionary changes that these skills could bring.

Indeed, her current technology was outdated. With Hinata's knowledge, she could achieve a breakthrough. Many challenges could finally be solved.

"Yes, but I need money—a lot of it," Hinata said with a confident smile. She extended her hand toward Orochimaru. "If we partner up, you create the profits, and I'll give you the technology you want. How does that sound?"

The sight of the little girl, combined with her sincere and adorable expression, made it hard for anyone to be wary of her.

"I see." Orochimaru paused for a moment, then looked directly into Hinata's eyes for a long time before finally extending her hand and giving a light handshake.

"Since we've agreed to work together, how about this cursed seal…" Hinata scratched her head and blinked innocently at Orochimaru, hinting at a possible removal.

"Let's discuss that later. Come here first. I have some questions for you." Orochimaru smiled serenely before reverting to her usual expressionless state. She walked toward the experiment table, firmly grabbing Hinata's wrist to drag her along.

"Wait!" Hinata tried to resist but couldn't. She was forcibly pulled to the table.

When Hinata reached the table, she saw the large sheet of paper laid out in front of her. Drawn on it was a detailed diagram of the disassembled Desert Eagle—each part meticulously sketched, from tiny millimeter-sized components to larger pieces measured in centimeters.

If it weren't for the fact that current printing technology in this world couldn't produce such perfect 3D images, she would have thought Orochimaru was playing a joke on her with a 3D-printed blueprint!

She had drawn it all by hand! The entire blueprint of the Desert Eagle had been disassembled and mapped out.

If she had a factory, production could begin immediately once the part-manufacturing issue was resolved.

"I don't understand—how did you manage to create such a precise weapon?" Orochimaru asked, her curiosity on full display.

Like you'd understand!

Hinata grumbled internally and shot Orochimaru a glare. She opened her mouth to explain but suddenly remembered something.